Preview: Ireland vs Springboks
9 Nov 2012
RYAN VREDE analyses the key match-ups and picks a winner of the year-end tour Test in Dublin.
The optimism among Ireland supporters appeared to be high when I first arrived in Dublin last Saturday, but I’ve since sensed a steady shift to something bordering pessimism, in light of injuries to key and experienced players. They still hope for an Ireland victory, of course, but there is none of the strong belief that had accompanied their ambition in recent meetings at Lansdowne Road.
Ireland have won three of the last four Tests in the city. Experienced and respected men among their media contingent predict that dominance will end, despite acknowledging the Springboks’ own struggles with injuries and their poor form in 2012. I think they’re right, although any Springbok victory will not be accompanied by glowing praise of the beauty of their performance.
The forecast is for cold but clear conditions at kick-off, which will assist the attacking play of both sides, not that either team is likely to thrill in their own territory. The Boks won’t veer from the kick-chase method when in their half, and they will look to put Ireland’s receivers under pressure with committed chasers. The hosts have consistently pointed to the importance of putting their primary punters – Ruan Pienaar, Pat Lambie and Zane Kirchner – under pressure. I don’t foresee them achieving this, with the Springboks’ pack likely to be dominant and in so doing buying the aforementioned players time to set themselves and pick their spots (they’ll target fullback Simon Zebo), whether that be up-and-unders or kicks into space.
Pat Lambie’s tactical game showed improvements in the Currie Cup, but the pressure of Test matches is incomparable and he’ll be under close scrutiny in this regard. Lambie will also be thrust further into the spotlight if the Springboks succeed in pressuring Ireland into penalties in kickable positions. He has kicked superbly of late and needs to replicate that form on the international stage. Certainly if Ireland find their attacking groove they are capable of punishing the Springboks for infringements, with Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O’Gara among the most accurate Test goal-kickers in 2012.
If Lambie wobbles with the boot the Springboks have problems. Statistically no team in the world has spent more time in the opposition’s 22m than they have this year, yet the return in terms of tries scored has been desperately poor. They have consistently conceded penalties or made handling errors when on attack in this zone. There needs to be a dramatic reduction in both counts. The Springboks simply have to be more clinical.
The Bok pack has fronted well in set and general play, even against the All Blacks, who are widely regarded to be the strongest eight in the game. They’ll be too good for the Irish, who’ll miss Paul O’Connell’s physicality and leadership and Sean O’Brein’s industry and potency at the breakdown. If Francois Louw can impose himself at breakdown time (off the back of a good gainline contest) it will further compound Ireland’s attacking struggles. I think he will, with Declan Kidney’s team not possessing enough high calibre strike runners to boss the tackle and render Louw a non-factor.
Expect parity at scrum time, while the tourists will boss the lineouts, where their rolling maul will be a massive weapon.
Overall, Ireland will be a fierce competitor but not one with the quality to take advantage of a significantly weakened Springbok side.
VREDE’S CALL: Springboks by 10
1,019 Comments
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9 Nov 2012, 14:53 pm
@Transformation-545: yes yes, its ok, its safe.
for now.
9 Nov 2012, 14:53 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-534: i know i’ve been doing a good job when you mutts are salivating at the thought of the Kings playing
9 Nov 2012, 14:54 pm
@skopdiekan-547: shut up you dumb ignorant fucktard.
I was a bulls fan when we came deadfuckinglast.
So don’t talk to me about bandwagons.
9 Nov 2012, 14:55 pm
Brumbiesboy, it took a SA coach to get you loosers back on track… what u gonna do it things dont work out next year? will Clyde eventually be successfull in his suicide attempts?
9 Nov 2012, 14:55 pm
@Transformation-552: i know i have done a good job when you are wriggling like a wem.
9 Nov 2012, 14:56 pm
HG is right: this endless brokeback fest is excruciatingly boring. Skop is the only one who provides any entertainment around here. Keo’s trained ******* should think long and hard before banning him again. What if he doesn’t bother to come back?
9 Nov 2012, 14:57 pm
@Transformation-552:
yes, we will be leaking our lips
9 Nov 2012, 14:57 pm
@suffer_guy-554: i wish you would be.
at least in your keocide attempts.
postal worker maybe a bit ambitious.
railways?
9 Nov 2012, 14:57 pm
@kaksioek-556: the houses in vishoek stop falling down when it rains?
9 Nov 2012, 14:59 pm
Anyone know how fast Raymond Rule is? e.g. over 100m or compared to Habana, Nokwe, Chavanga, etc
9 Nov 2012, 14:59 pm
Cape wankathon….
MASSIVE!!
9 Nov 2012, 14:59 pm
Rangerman .. you remember Zet? in your childhood days? Well i played Zet .. en jou ma buk vir Zet
9 Nov 2012, 14:59 pm
@gunther-553: whats a capetonian soutpiel like you doing supporting the last bastion of boermoer byeenkoms in the last dead ended laager of bloublommetjies kloof. Gotta be a dumdum who don’t know f’all about rugby.. no wonder you such a connoisseur of that poefta pastime called skittle sticks.
9 Nov 2012, 15:00 pm
@The Rangerman-559: On the contrary, he would have more time to concentrate on his calling.
9 Nov 2012, 15:00 pm
A caucus of the CMMS
Cape MutualMasturbation Society…
Dont want to disturb…
9 Nov 2012, 15:00 pm
@suffer_guy-562: so it was railways?
9 Nov 2012, 15:01 pm
@blik-560: he runs fastest with a stolen TV set being chased by the coppas
9 Nov 2012, 15:01 pm
@kaksioek-564: thats what i am saying
9 Nov 2012, 15:03 pm
@Heavens Game-565:
I think you forget where you are you foreign b@stard !!!!!
9 Nov 2012, 15:03 pm
@ufo-370: New leader in post of the
week stakes.How are you pal?
9 Nov 2012, 15:04 pm
@skopdiekan-563: its not called skittle sticks.
much like jimmy hendrix didnt play the toothpick.
when are you going to grow up?
9 Nov 2012, 15:04 pm
@skopdiekan-563:
I am culturally diverse.
I will will shout you a fanta grape when I tell Transie over a beer.
9 Nov 2012, 15:05 pm
@gunther-572: get him the garden salad.
still kicking.
9 Nov 2012, 15:06 pm
@The Rangerman-568: Sorry, I didn’t realize how much you respected his architectural abilities.
9 Nov 2012, 15:06 pm
@skopdiekan-563: Should you not be striking for higher wages today?
9 Nov 2012, 15:07 pm
Damn.
Duminy out of Aussie tour.
Looks like we will have to beat the Aussies with 10 men in Brisbane.
9 Nov 2012, 15:07 pm
@kaksioek-574: i dont.
9 Nov 2012, 15:07 pm
@The Rangerman-573:
Spur Salad Valley.
And a Little Tribe T-Shirt.
9 Nov 2012, 15:07 pm
@suffer_guy-554: I wouldn’t talk about imported coaches if I was you, bud.
And I’ll carry on supporting them whatever.
As for Clyde I don’t know what you’re talking about but it sounds like a pretty cheap shot.
9 Nov 2012, 15:08 pm
@gunther-578:
hold the mayo.
its made from slave-cow milk.
9 Nov 2012, 15:09 pm
There’s something wrong there’s a chill in the air
and the blood in my vein’s running colder
The western sky is beginning to silver
and the words that you speak start to falter
The seal is broken, the oath has been crossed
In the site of bland Keo there’s no taker
Some say that this is the ultimate sin
When the Keo world turns to the banal alter
9 Nov 2012, 15:09 pm
Rangerman … i was a crane driver at the railway … then i started studying..now i’m a CA
9 Nov 2012, 15:09 pm
@kaksioek-556:
i enjoy skop, especially when he isn’t in his ‘hatred of heyneke’ blues.
9 Nov 2012, 15:09 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-579: since the trains stopped running suffer has nowhere to shovel coal.
very frustrating, he was an artist with a shovel.
9 Nov 2012, 15:09 pm
i.e .. i started off as a low life quota … and worked myself up to being half decent – like habana
9 Nov 2012, 15:10 pm
@Heavens Game-565:
It’s not working
You’re needed at Sharksworld
Off you go
9 Nov 2012, 15:10 pm
@suffer_guy-582:
9 Nov 2012, 15:10 pm
@kaksioek-574:
Look building is a very technical and highly skilled proffession.
Which is precisely why I don’t think fuckadilly and Fernley should be encouraged to practice it.
9 Nov 2012, 15:11 pm
@suffer_guy-582:
Complete A rsehole?
9 Nov 2012, 15:12 pm
TUG!
PULL!
SPANK!
POP!
9 Nov 2012, 15:12 pm
@suffer_guy-585: i am guessing you are more like the philip burger (little prancing wing for FS) of the CA world than the habana of your profession but maybe you save your best work for your clients and leave us with the rest?
9 Nov 2012, 15:12 pm
@wnbb-411: Good man.
9 Nov 2012, 15:12 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-583: The only brokeback I have time for. Grant10 aLSO HAS HIS MOMENTS – fark, sorry, caps.
9 Nov 2012, 15:12 pm
Kaunda Ntunja: I Do not Support Heyneke Meyer!
November 9, 2012 in Rugby
GRR Columnist
When it comes to the subject of transformation in rugby I can become a very emotional man and my explanations to this can be long winded so please bear with me. Transformation in rugby should have its primary focus at grass roots level. That focus should then filter upwards all the way to the professional echelons. I am aware of all of this but my gripe is that when time and effort has been spent on black players to be ready at an elite level they should be selected. What is the use of doing the ground work if the rewards are not going to be reaped? When the black players that are good enough don’t get selected, what are you as a coach saying about the system as a whole? Heyneke Meyer has a general disregard for transformation therefore he spits on the faces of all of those that work hard to make sure that there are enough quality black players to play at an elite level. I have been a Bok supporter since the day I started showing an interest in rugby in 1992. I will always support the Boks but I will never support people like Heyneke Meyer. I am not a politician and I never will be. So unlike a lot of politicians I will explain to you exactly where Meyer failed us…in detail.
One of the first things that Heyneke did as Springbok coach was to elect a leadership group. This group consisted of Jean de Villiers (the captain), Bismarck du Plessis (the vice captain) and Adriaan Strauss. There were a lot of players that could’ve been in this group but unfortunately they were not available for selection. Players like Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez and Schalk Burger. I have no problem with his decision to elect the captain and the vice-captain into his group, that makes perfect sense. My issue was with Strauss being part of this group. When the coach made Strauss the third leader he automatically said to the country that Chiliboy Ralepelle is not part of his match 22 going forward. This was an epic fail. Not only has Chiliboy been part of the Bok setup for longer than Strauss, he was also on the form of his life. Chiliboy was one of the main reasons why the Bulls found themselves in the Super Rugby playoffs! Least we forget that Heyneke stunted Chiliboy’s growth while he was in charge of the Bulls as well. Heyneke has been a dark shadow that has just followed Chiliboy everywhere. Here is a classical case of a black player that has been developed by the system to possibly become a Bok captain and a coach refuses point blank to select him. What’s worse is that now thatBismarckis injured, one would think that logically Chiliboy would be on the bench for Strauss but alas he selects an overseas based player ahead of him. Schalk Brits is an excellent player make no mistake about it but when you have great South African based talent there is no need to select abroad. Chiliboy has captained the Bok side before and he also captained the SA under 19 and 21 sides. Why waste all of this investment? To say that I am disgusted would be an understatement.
The Stormers played the Bulls at Loftus on the day that Heyneke Meyer selected his squad to play against the touring English side. That day the man of the match was Siya Kolisi. That accolade was also not his first of the season as Kolisi had been destructive from the very first week of the Super Rugby tournament when he came on for the injured Schalk Burger. I haven’t seen such an aggressive loose forward since the days of Jerry Collins. The young Kolisi was dominant against every opponent that stood before him. The Bok coach snubbed him and this time it was quite embarrassing as Kolisi’s performance was very fresh on everyone’s minds. He then said later that Kolisi is a young player that will one day get his chance but he needs to work on a few things. I would’ve accepted this explanation if it wasn’t for the fact that Marcell Coetzee got selected as the starting lineup flanker for that series. Kolisi turned 21 in June this year and Coetzee turned 21 in May this year. Why is it that Coetzee is ready to be a Bok and Kolisi isn’t? Why isn’t Coetzee too bloody young to be a Bok? Why isn’t Coetzee needed to be worked on? What makes it even worse is that when Kolisi got injured, Heyneke then said that he really wanted to use him. OH PLEASE!! Spare us the nonsense!
Elton Jantjies was selected as cover for Morne Steyn during the English series. I had no issue with this as Heyneke had worked with Steyn for many years and that was the player he trusted. Jantjies did not even get a single minute of play the entire series. Morne Steyn was terribly off form and even in the third test when the series was already a dead rubber, Heyneke stuck with the blundering Steyn. TheNelsonMandelaBaycrowd booed Steyn but Heyneke didn’t budge. The production team at Supersport even sent him hints by constantly showing Elton Jantjies’ disappointed face on the big screen, still nothing from Heyneke. Wow! We then moved onto the Rugby Championship and Johan Goosen returned from injury. Jantjies got dropped and Goosen was on the bench for Steyn. Now all of a sudden he was able to substitute Steyn and put on Goosen. Why couldn’t he give Jantjies a chance while he was on the bench? The answer is simple. Heyneke has a lack of faith towards the players of colour. Anyway, because of the massive public outcry, he finally decided to drop Steyn out of his match 22 and his two flyhalves were Goosen and Jantjies. Goosen started and Jantjies was on the bench. When Goosen got injured atSoccerCityagainst the All Blacks, it took Heyneke a very long time to put Jantjies on. Goosen was actually even limping but he still didn’t want to put Jantjies on. Goosen’s obvious discomfort even resulted in a try as the Boks were one man less on defence when the All Blacks attacked our line. Heyneke was willing to sacrifice all of that. Eventually Goosen couldn’t go on any longer and Heyneke was forced to put Jantjies on the field. This Saturday againstIreland, Heyneke has decided not to select Jantjies at all. In fact his two flyhalves are Lambie and Steyn who weren’t his flyhalves in the last Bok test. Heyneke spoke about continuity when he justified Jaco Taute’s selection. Unfortunately continuity doesn’t apply to players like Elton Jantjies.
Jaco Taute had a nightmare at outside centre against the All Blacks and he was a non entity the week before against the Wallabies. Taute has only ever played two games for the Boks and is yet to justify his selection. The boy is a good player but he isn’t a centre he is a fullback, a great fullback. When Heyneke was asked about why he picked Patrick Lambie he said that Lambie was on form in the Currie Cup and he is hoping that that form goes through to the match againstIreland. So what the hell was de Jongh doing in the Currie Cup? Was he playing marbles while everyone else played rugby? Juan de Jongh’s brilliance wonWesternProvincethe Currie Cup. So if we are going to talk about form going into tomorrow’s match lets talk about de Jongh! Juan de Jongh is the best available outside centre we have. What’s worse is that he has to sit on the bench for a player who is struggling because he is out of position. Why is it that Lambie’s form justifies his selection and de Jongh’s form doesn’t? Why?
Francois Hougaard is playing on the left wing. He is playing left wing because he has performed dismally in his normal position of scrumhalf. In the squad we have Raymond Rhule and Lwazi Mvovo. 2 electric speedsters who would love to tear up the turf of the Aviva Stadium. Hougaard has also publicly stated that he is not happy playing wing and he would be willing to sit on the bench as a scrumhalf. Given all of this, why does Heyneke insist on selecting Hougaard on the wing? The player obviously isn’t happy there so why force him? More importantly, why starve natural left wingers the opportunity to play? Heyneke you are messing up big time!
The continued overlooking of Gio Aplon also adds to my frustrations. All in all, I am a Bok supporter so therefore I would like the Boks to win but I am not a fan of Heyneke Meyer. So where does this leave me…I guess in a grey area. If the Boks win, Heyneke remains the coach and if they lose then we are closer to him being relieved of his duties. I wish one day he would be man enough to admit that he actually has a problem with players of colour!
9 Nov 2012, 15:12 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-415: Frankly, I’ll leave that for the okes with agendas, I prefer just enjoy the game and live my life. Martyrdom of any kind? Wtf.
9 Nov 2012, 15:13 pm
@suffer_guy-582: Beyootiful
9 Nov 2012, 15:13 pm
Dawn .. skerp!!! jys alweer vroeg op die papsak ne .. is ook al wanneer jy iets se wat funny is
9 Nov 2012, 15:13 pm
@Heavens Game-590:
Keep it to yourself whydontja
9 Nov 2012, 15:14 pm
@gunther-588: I can’t think of anyone better than Skop to build houses for the people of the Cape. Long may he continue to do so.
9 Nov 2012, 15:15 pm
@Heavens Game-590:
You’re doing a lot of public skommeling today
Missing your banshee?
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